Per non si avere a ripigliar da tanti.

PURE and unsullied beauty Heaven lent
Unto one noble, lofty fair alone,

Beneath a spotless veil, that when through death
Reclaim'd, it should not have to leave so many.
If Heaven indeed had shared it among all

That mortal are, it scarce could have withdrawn
It back, and re-enrich'd its treasury.

Heaven has re-ta'en it from this mortal goddess,
(To call her so,) and borne it from our eyes;
Yet the sweet, beautiful, and holy verse
Cannot so soon into oblivion pass,

Although the mortal be removed by death.

But Pity, merciless, appears to us

To show that, if to each one Heaven had given
The beauty of this fair one to partake,
We should be all obliged to suffer death,
That Heaven might repossess it of its own.

APPENDIX.

L

FROM MICHAEL ANGELO.

RAPT above earth by power of one fair face,
Hers in whose sway alone my heart delights,
I mingle with the blest on those pure heights
Where Man, yet mortal, rarely finds a place.
With Him who made the work that work accords
So well, that by its help and through his grace
I raise my thoughts, inform my deeds and words,
Clasping her beauty in my soul's embrace.

Thus, if from two fair eyes mine cannot turn,

I feel how in their presence doth abide

Light which to God is both the way and guide;
And, kindling at their lustre, if I burn,
My noble fire emits the joyful ray

That through the realms of glory shines for aye.

(WORDSWORTH.)

FROM MICHAEL ANGELO.

ETERNAL Lord! eased of a cumbrous load,
And loosen'd from the world, I turn to Thee;
Shun, like a shatter'd bark, the storm, and flee
To thy protection for a safe abode.

The crown of thorns, hands pierced upon the tree,
The meek, benign, and lacerated face,
To a sincere repentance promise grace,
To the sad soul give hope of pardon free.
With justice mark not Thou, O Light divine,
My fault, nor hear it with thy sacred ear;
Neither put forth that way thy arm severe;
Wash with thy blood my sins; thereto incline
More readily the more my years require

Help, and forgiveness speedy and entire.

(WORDSWORTH.)